FRISCO, Texas (June 19, 2012) – US Youth Soccer is proud to announce the schedule for the 2012 US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest) Championships presented by the National Guard to be played June 23-27 at Saginaw Township Soccer Complex in Saginaw, Mich. The National Guard's partnership with US Youth Soccer is focused on enriching the soccer experience by positively influencing players and coaches in areas of leadership and character development while adding a strong presence of American pride.

The US Youth Soccer Region II Championships, which will feature top teams in the Under-13 through Under-19 age groups, kickoff with round robin games Saturday, June 23, through Monday, June 25, and semifinal matches Tuesday, June 26 and The US Youth Soccer Region II Champions will be crowned following final games on Wednesday, June 27.

US Youth Soccer State Cup champions and select runners-up from 14 State Associations in Region II, including host Michigan Youth Soccer Association will participate. The other State Associations represented are Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio North, Ohio South, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Teams competing in the Regional Championships advanced through the first step of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, where more than 10,000 teams began their journey at the US Youth Soccer State Championships. State champions advance to the one of four US Youth Soccer Regional Championships, where 926 teams compete.

The 2012 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series is the country's oldest and most prestigious national youth soccer tournament. The event provides more than 185,000 players from US Youth Soccer's 55 state associations the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation, while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play. The Series is known as the ultimate destination for the country's collegiate soccer coaches and the future of soccer.

About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) – US Youth Soccer - "The Game for ALL Kids!®" is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member State Associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org.

Media Request: When referring to the United States Youth Soccer Association, the largest youth sports organization in the United States, please refer to the association only as US Youth Soccer, and never as USYS or USYSA. We appreciate your cooperation.

About the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series

The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides more than 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer's 55 State Associations the opportunity to showcase their abilities against the best in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play. The yearlong competition begins with over 185,000 players in the US Youth Soccer State Championships. These champions and selected wildcard teams, through US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues, advance to compete in one of four the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. Champions (U-14 through U-19) from each regional event advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships. The Under-15 through 17 Boys and Girls age groups have two teams representative of the US Youth Soccer National League, in which the top two teams in each gender age group earn a direct path to the national championships. Overall the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides the nation's top collegiate coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country.

Media Request: When referring to the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the most prestigious event in youth sports, please refer to the event as US Youth Soccer National Championship Series on first reference and National Championship Series on anything thereafter. Never refer to as NCS or USYS NCS. We appreciate your cooperation.